If you’re familiar with Tunisian, this pattern set will be easy. If you’re not, I’ve described some steps in detail, that I then shorthand.

Tunisian lies between knitting and crochet. You create fabric by picking up loops and holding them all at once on your hook, and then working them off. In other words, you pull up a series of loops from the existing fabric/previous stitches and then you do a “return pass” of pulling yarn through these loops (one, two or three at a time) and working them off, until you end up with one loop you your hook.

While the technique usually requires a hook with a long shaft, these leaves are small enough that you may just stuff the loops on your regular crochet hook. Though, without a long discussion on hook anatomy, it may be a challenge for some hook types.

You may use any hook size /yarn combination you choose. You can achieve a lacy-feathery look in the linear leaves if you choose a larger-than-regular gauge hook for your yarn. I also like the way the leaves look dense. The cordate (heart-shaped) leaves in the Lana Grossa bulky were made with a H hook. I like the plump texture and dimensional veins this achieved.

This collection is inspired by the wonderful IFFG group and written for its New Leaf FreeForm-Along, September 2016.